Bee feeder



Sept. 23, 1952 J. W GQBLE 2,611,140

BEE FEEDER Filed May 5, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

BY dfi/VES M @054,5 i

interior of the beehive I Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED vSTVSTIEZS PATENT OFFICE f i 2.611-,140 'Y BEE FEnl'njnv Y James W. Goble, Burbank, Calif. AppucationMay 5, 195o, serial-No. 160,133 v zolaims. (C1. 6 5)l This invention relates to a bee-feeding device.

An object of this inventionv is to provide a bee feeding device which is particularly adapted for use in the entrance of a beehive. Y

lAnother object of this invention isto provide a bee feeding device which is particularly adapted for feeding liquid and solid feed. l

A 4further object of this invention is to provide a bee -feeding device which may be readily disassembled for cleaning the interior thereof.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bee feedingdevice which is simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon' consulting the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bee feeding device of the present invention as applied to the entrance of a beehive; f

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view, Lwith parts broken away and in section, of the bee feeding device of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the bee feeding device, when viewed from the left of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of closure lid for the bee feeding device of the present invention. y

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, there is shown the bee feeding device of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral I0, supported within the entrance I2 of the beehive I I.

The bee feeding device is fabricated of any suitl able plastic material or the like, and includes an elongated, at base I3 which rests upon the bottom of the beehive II within the entrance I2 contiguous to one side thereof, and has one end extending into and in communication with the I. The other end of the base I3 extends outwardly of the entrance I2 of the hive II and has its marginal edge arcuately cut away, as indicated at I4. Resting upon the outwardlyl projecting end of the base I3 and having its lower end xedly secured to the marginal edge thereof is a vertically extending arcuate wall I5 which has its free ends terminating adjacent to and spaced from the interiorly projecting end of the base I3.

Extending inwardly from the interiorly projecting end of the base I3 in end-to-endconfronting frelation with respect to each vof the free ends lof the arcuate wall I5, and formed integrally With said free ends of the wall I5, are o-pposed, vertically extending iianges I6, I1 of substantially greater width than the arcuate wall I5. Each of the anges I6, I'I has its lower end fxedly secured to the base I3, and has its upper end slightly tapering downwardly toward the end of the base contiguous thereto, as indicated at 30, to permit free insertion and withdrawal from the entraneerz of the beemve I l. f

Disposed transversely of the` base I3 along the interiorly projecting end thereof is an abutment I8 which has its lower end fixedly securedto said base, andv has its upper end terminating at a point spaced below the upperends of the flanges I6, I'I, to. effectively maintain the base proof against moisture which may accumulate within the interior of the beehive I I.

The arcuate wall I5 is provided with a rim I9 on its upper end for the support thereon of a closureZIl which has one end shaped complementary to the arcuate wall I5, as indicated at 2|, and has its other end bent downwardly, as-indicated at 22to overlie the abutting ends of the arcuate wall I5 and the flanges I6, I1, the end edge 22a of the downwardly bent other end 22 of the closure 20 being straight. Contiguous to the sides of the closure 20 and dependingly supported from the downwardly bent end thereof are apair of `lugs 23,V 24 which have their free ends embracingly received and supported within opposed sockets 25 provided interiorly of the vertical anges I6, II, the portion of the edge 22a between the lugs '23, 24, extending between the ends of the flanges I6 and I'I which are connected to the lwall I5. From the foregoing it is readily apparent that the base I3, the arcuate wall I5 the vertical flanges I6, Il, the abutment I8, and the closure 20 cooperate to form a chamber which is open contiguous to one end thereof to permit the influx of bees from the beehive II. As illustrated by the broken lines of Figure 4, the closure 20 may be rocked about the lugs 23, 24 out of closing position resting upon the arcuate wall I5 to thereby permit ready access to the interior of the chamber. The rocking movement of the closure 20 is eiected by a handle 26 projecting outwardly from the arcuately cut away end 2I of the closure 20 and secured thereto. The outwardly projecting end of the handle '26 is provided with a depending latch 21 which engages with a protruding keeper 28 carried by the arcuate wall I5 to normally maintain the closure 20 in its position upon the arcuate wall I5. It is to be noted that the rocking movement of the closure 20 may be effected while the bee feeder I 0 is supported within the entrance I 2 of the beehive II, since the curved end 22 0f the closure 20 is selected so that the curved end 22 Will not interfere with the adjacent wall of the hive I I.

When it is desired to use the bee feeding device of the present invention in conjunction with liquid feeds, such as a syrup, the closurell)` is provided with a central aperture 30 for the insertion therethrough of the threaded open top of a receptacle 3|. The closure 20 contiguous tov the aperture 30 is provided with a seat 32 which engages the receptacle 3| adjacent to its open top and supports the receptacle in an upright position. Threadedly engaging thev open top ofv the receptacle 3I is a lid 33 which is provided with a plurality of apertures 34 for the withdrawal therethrough of the contents of the receptacle 3 I. When using'syrup` asa feed'. the viscosity maintains the syrup within the receptacle 3Iunti1 such time as the bees withdraw the syrupt-herefrom.

AWhen it is desired to utilize-the bee-feeder of thefpresent invention in conjunction with solid feeds, such as artiilcial pollen and solidvcandy cakes, aclosurey, as illustrated inv Figure 5,:,is utilized. Solid feed is placed :within thez bee feeder I0', andthe. closure 2U isV brought into its closing position, whereupon the beesy have ready access to the feed, and the user; can readily; renew the feed supply or clean the interiorof the bee feeding'device.

Although only one embodiment of the bee feediing` deviceof the present invention has been-described and illustrated, numerous modifications may be made without' departing from, the spirit of the invention as set forthv in `the appended claims. .What Ivclaimis:

. l. Infan entrance bee feeder,- a basefhaving one end.` adapted -to extendV into azbeehive:v entrance.A awall extending about thezmarginal edge of said base inwardly' from the other-'.endithereof and 'terminating adjacent' to: andr vspaced from said one end' of. said base and secured to: said base', opposed'ilanges' extending` inwardly from said one end offsaid base and terminating at andv connected integrally to. saidwall, saiid flanges being tapered for'partial insertionv thereoin the =beehive entrance to thereby dispose'uthe" ends;r of the flanges connectedtosaid wall exteriorly: of the b'eehive entrance. the endsof the flanges connected tosaid Wall being alignedl transverselyrof the baser and vbeing of agreater-widththansaid wall, thus to form end faces upon said connected flange ends, the end faces having sockets formed therein, a closure resting upon said wall, and lugs carried at opposite sides of the closure and removably and pivotally engageable in the sockets for mounting the closure at a location in which, in the inserted position of the flanges, the closure is both swingable into and out of bridging relation with said Wall, and is bodily removable from the Wall.

' 2. In an entrance bee feeder,v a base having one end adapted to extend into a beehive enend thereof and terminating adjacent to and 1 spaced from said one end of said base and secured to said base, opposed vertical flanges extending inwardly from said one end of said base and terminating at and connected integrally to said Wall, said flanges being of a height less than said wall andbeingtaperedfor partial insertion thereofinto the beehiveentrance to thereby dispose the ends-of, the flanges connected to said wall exteriorly of thei-beehive entrance, the ends of the flanges connected to'said wallbeing aligned transverselyjof the-base and being of aA greater width than said: wall, thusftoY form'vend faces upon `said connected. flange ends, rthe lend faces having vsockets formed therein, a closure'resting upon saidwall and havingl a straightedgeaextending.- between the connected flange. ends;v so as to -be spaced 'from said'entrance, Ithe -closure being curved downwardlyadjacentV said end edge thereof to the height of rtheflanges, and lugs'carriedj by the. rclosure at opposite ends-of said end edge thereof,l the lugsbeingremovably and pivotally engageable in the sockets-for mountingwthe closure at a location in which, in thevinserted'position of the flanges,'the.closure isk both swing-` able into and out of bridging relationwithsaid wall, andisl bodilyv removably from the wall.-

. ,.IAMESW.` GOBLE.

REFEREN CES YCITED The following references are of record in the flle: of" this :patent:

.. UNITED STATES PA'IEN'IS Number Name v l Date 1,056,266 Danzenbaker ,...fMarfY 18,.-1913 @Rootr Bee,Supplies.l938,pages 55, I'. Root C,ompany Medina, Ohio. 

